“This virus is just unbelievably contagious.”-Paul Cieslak, Oregon Public Health Division

Health officials in Oregon are reporting a spike in norovirus cases in the past two weeks.  Also, an outbreak that hit a girl’s soccer team has been linked to those so called environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags. It happened in 2010.  Last year researchers were finally able to make the link.  The first victim of the virus actually made an attempt to stay away from the other players, but seven others still got sick.  The common link was a reusable shopping bag containing food that all eight shared.  The bag-o-food was left in the bathroom, for some unintelligent reason.  The researchers speculate that the first girl vomited in the bathroom where the reusable food bag was.  With the norovirus just being in the same area of someone throwing up can get you sick, or contaminate your food.

The Sydney 2012 hybird of the Genotype II.4 strain of norovirus is spreading fast in France, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States.  Ian Goodfellow at the University of Cambridge says Sydney 2012 is “the Ferrari of the virus world” and “one of the most infectious viruses of man.”

Genotype II.4 is known as a type of norovirus that causes epidemics and pandemics. Sydney 2012 is something new, it’s a hybrid between Japanese and  Dutch Genotype II.4 strains.  Aussie and Kiwi Researchers say the two 2007 strains combined to make the Sydney 2012 strain (it was first noticed in Australia in 2012).  There have been several norovirus pandemics: 1996-97, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009.

Cases of norovirus, influenza and whooping cough are all on the rise, and some are thinking there’s a connection.  Health officials in the U.S. state (Utah) now considered the launch point for Sydney 2012, say there’s no connection: “As far as we know, they’re completely coincidental and separate.”-Andy Pavia, University of Utah

In California yet another school was hit with the stomach bug.  A week ago there were ten outbreaks reported in Contra Costa County, one of them at the Lafayette elementary school. More than 100 students were sick. But this seems common for schools in Contra Costa County, in the first two months of 2012 at least 30 schools were hit.  If you didn’t hear about it last year it’s because schools are not required to make public such outbreaks!

I recently saw a report out of the U.S. midwest where hospital staff told the reporter they’re being ordered to use lots of “purell” (an alcohol based hand sanitizer). However, Contra Costa Public Health officials in California are saying alcohol based hand cleaners have no effect on norovirus!  (click here to see  study)

Also in California, Marin County Public Health officials gave a nursing home a clean bill of health after an outbreak sickened 78 people.  Six people were hospitalized, and two died.  The nursing home will no longer use a self serve buffet style eating facility, staff must now serve each person their meals while wearing gloves and hats.

In Hawaii, a week and a half ago health officials reported a sudden outbreak of norovirus at several hospitals. They were surprised by how fast it spread. So far no common link has been found, and officials hope it’s over.

In Merry Olde England, health officials are telling sick people to stay away from the hospital!  The United Kingdom‘s Health Protection Agency (HPA) is telling people to phone their doctor or clinic first if they think they’re sick.  Telling people to stay away from the hospital might have helped reduce hospital outbreaks, but, the HPA is also reporting that overall cases of vomiting bug are 56% higher when compared to the same time last year.

Also, norovirus is still alive and well in British hospitals. The Solihull Hospital was recently closed to visitors, and two wards were locked down: “Wards 15 and 19 at Solihull Hospital are currently on lock down due to norovirus.  As there are also many cases of norovirus outside the hospital in the community; Solihull Hospital has closed all wards to visitors except for the outpatients department and intensive care as a precautionary measure to protect patients. Any patients attending an outpatient appointment should not attend if they have experienced vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms two days prior to their appointment.”-hospital statement

A cruise ship company has settled a lawsuit from a woman in Scotland. She got sick with norovirus on a cruise four years ago, and is still suffering symptoms!

Health officials in France report that the number of people sick with norovirus has passed the epidemic level.

In Delaware, the Division of Public Health reports the first cases, and that there have been several outbreaks.

Here’s more proof that cleanliness does not protect you from viruses, and hospitals are the worst place to be: “They can survive freezing and heating and cleaning with many chemical disinfectants. In 2010, scientists surveyed a hospital for noroviruses and found 21 different types sitting on a single countertop. It takes fewer than 20 noroviruses slipping into a person’s mouth to start a new infection.”–Carl Zimmer, science writer National Geographic

Norovirus is also known as Norwalk virus, calicivirus, viral gastroenteritis and many other names and strains: “Symptoms of norovirus infection include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping. Noroviruses are a group of related viruses that affect the stomach and intestines and are the most common cause of stomach and intestinal inflammation, also known as gastroenteritis, in the U.S.”-David Young, South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control

Most people are sick with symptoms for 24 to 48 hours.  However, even if you feel better you can still pass it along for almost a week afterwards.  If you’re sick with symptoms for more than 48 hours get medical help.

That said, there is no treatment for norovirus (basically the hospital tries to keep you hydrated), no vaccine, and your body does not develop immunity so you can get sick again and again and again….